Methods for detecting fluorescent signals in a biological sample
Inventors
Kim, Young Min • Zhu, Yanning • Agarwal, Yash • Wang, Xiuzhong • Armstrong, Aaron • Borgerding, Robert • MacGinitie, Andrew • Seppo, Antti • Ichetovkin, Ilia • Kilpatrick, Michael • Tsipouras, Petros • Tafas, Triantafyllos P.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10018642-B2
Publication Date
2018-07-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.
Core Innovation
The disclosed system uses a computer-writeable database and a processor operably coupled to an automated microscope for biological sample analysis. Interrogatable data on a microscope slide provide information related to an analysis protocol, and the microscope analyzes the sample according to that protocol and provides an analytical outcome. The background section is not included in the provided content, so the problem being solved is not explicitly described.
The disclosed high-throughput arrangement includes slide cassette and slide handling, automated analysis of slides according to encoded protocols, and progression among slides and cassettes. The described microscopic analysis includes fluorescence and FISH signal processing and applications such as AneuVysion and UroVysion. The claims further specify scanning at sequentially varying focal levels using a predefined parfocality offset.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims are claims 1 and 4. Together, they cover two inventive features: protocol-directed automated microscopic analysis and high-throughput cassette-based microscopic analysis.
Protocol-directed automated microscopic analysis
Claim 1 covers a computer-writeable database and processor coupled to an automated microscope. The system interrogates slide data that provide information related to the sample analysis protocol, analyzes the sample according to that protocol, and provides an analytical outcome. The claim also specifies focal-level scanning using a predefined parfocality offset.
High-throughput cassette-based microscopic analysis
Claim 4 covers a computer-writeable database and processor coupled to an automated microscope for high-throughput microscopic analysis. The claimed system handles slides and cassettes, analyzes samples according to protocols identified by interrogatable slide data, provides an analytical outcome, and automatically proceeds through remaining slides and cassettes. The claim also specifies focal-level scanning using a predefined parfocality offset.
The independent claims cover automated analysis directed by protocol information on a microscope slide, with analytical outcomes and focal-level scanning using a parfocality offset. The second independent claim additionally covers high-throughput operation with automated slide and cassette progression.
Stated Advantages
The claimed system supports high-throughput microscopic analysis through automated slide and cassette handling and progression.
Documented Applications
The described applications include AneuVysion and UroVysion analyses.
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